Combination lock



Feb. 10, 1942. SANOwsms 2,272,354

COMBINATION LOCK Filed July 26, 1940 2 Sheets- Sheet 1 5 Q 96 so 26 24 75775? a z a Y G 628 #7 SAM 0W5 l's Feb. 10, 1942. s flows s 2,272,354

COMBINATION LOCK 2 Sheets-Sheet Filed July 26, 1940 A 5/?7 Sswows/os #2 W Patented Feb. 10, 1942 UNITED STATS OFFIQE 10 Claims.

The invention relates to combination looks.

The objects of the invention are to provide an improved combination lock; which is adapted for manual and selective operation by a dial or equivalent means and which is simple in construction; which will automatically unlock the locking-bolt when the correct combination has been used to shift th tumblers into releasing position; which comprises an escapement device for controlling the successive movements of the tumblershifting member to successively shift the tumblers into releasing position; which comprises simple and improved setting mechanism for the tumblers; which is operable from the outside of the door only by use of the correct combination and which can be locked and released from the inside of the door Without the combination; and others which will appear from the detailed description.

The invention consists in the several novel features which are hereinafter set forth and which are more particularly defined by claims at the conclusion hereof.

In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a horizontal section of a lock embodying the invention applied to a door, the bolt being shown in its locking position. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on line 33 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a perspective of the escapement device for controlling the tumbler-shifting member for successively engaging and shifting the tumblers; Fig. 5 is a perspective of the sleeve which is rotatable with the manually and selectively operable dial to impart movement to the tumbler-shifting member; Fig. 6 is a detail perspective of the support for the frame for shifting the tumbler-shifting member. Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the dial for manually and selectively operating the tumblers. Fig. 8 is a vertical section similar to Fig. 1, illustrating the tumblers and locking-bolt in the positions assumed when the door is unlocked. Fig. 9 is a section taken on line 9 of Fig. 8, illustrating th controlling device for the locking-bolt in position assumed when the bolt is retracted; Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 9 illustrating the controlling device in posiand adapted to enter a socket-plate 23 door-jamb to lock the door.

The lock is adapted to be operated to unlock bolt 22 by a manually and selectively operable dial 24 which is rotatably mounted at the outer side of the casing 21 and is adapted by successive strokes to shift tumblers predetermined distances corresponding to the indications on the dial. Dial 24 is provided with pockets 25 to receive a finger for the rotation of th dial through predetermined arcs of different magnitude and until the finger is arrested by a fixed stop 26. A cylindrical sleeve 21 is secured to rotate with, and extends inwardly from, the dial. A convolute spring 28 around sleeve 2! has one of its ends secured to a bracket 29 which is fixed to case 2| and its other end secured, as at 30, to sleeve 21, for retracting the dial after each operative stroke in on direction and when it is released by the operator. The dial is normally positioned by a stop 3| on the dial and which is held against a fixed stop 29 by spring in the A series of tumblers 32 are coaxially pivotally mounted on a shaft 33. Shaft 33 is fixed in brackets 34 and is provided with spacing sleeves 35 between the tumblers so that each tumbler will be independently and individually movable on said shaft. Sleeve 21 is rotatabl around a cylindrical support 40 (Fig. 6) which is fixedly secured to the inner face of one side of case 2!.

The mechanism for shifting the tumblers responsively to the rotative strokes of the dial 24 and sleeve 27 in one direction, comprises a frame 35 (Fig. 4) which is slidable in support 43. Frame 36 has end-walls 31 which are provided with lugs 38 which are slidably confined in slots 39 formed in support 48. Sleeve 21 (Fig. 5) rotates with the dial and. fits around the cylindrical upper portion of support 40, and is provided with helical slots 4!. Studs 42 project outwardly from lugs 38 on frame 35 and into the slots 4| in sleeve 21. Oscillatory movements of the sleeve 2? from the dial will impart reciprocating strokes to studs 42 and frame 36 to operate the tumblers according to the magnitude of the dial strokes. A crossbar 43 has its ends fixed in th end-walls 37 of, and is reciprocated with, frame 35 (Fig. 4). A tumblershifting member 44 is slidably mounted on bar 43 for step-by-step movements into positions for successively and individually shifting the tumblers. Member 44 is non-rotatable on bar 43 and is provided with an integral arm 45 for engaging a tumbler during each reciprocation of frame 36 by an operating stroke of the dial. Each tumbler comprises an arm 32' which is adapted to be engaged by the inward movement of arm 45 of member 44. Each tumbler is provided with a notch 32 The notches in the series of tumblers are relatively located so that a predetermined combination of strokes must be imparted to the tumblers, respectively, by the dial 24 to bring all of the notches into alignment for th release of the bolt 22 to unlock the door, as hereinafter described.

An escapement-device is provided to successively position arm 45 for singly shifting the tumblers into position for the release of bolt 22. A coil-spring 47 around bar 43 and between member 44 and one end 3'! of frame 35 shifts member 44 and arm 45, under control of an escapementbar 56, into positions for successive operation of the tumblers. A resilient strip or dog 48 which fits against a lug 49 which is integral with member 44 engages escapement-bar 55, to control the step-by-step movements of member 44 and arm 45 and permits retraction of arm 45. Escapement-bar 55 is slidable relatively to member 44 in slots i formed in the end-walls 37 of frame 35 and is normally pressed against the inner end of said slots by a leaf-spring 52. Bar 50 is provided with a serrated slot 53 into which the end of resilient dog 48 normally extends. This slot is provided with serially connected inclined portions and portions parallel to the plane of movements or" member 44 which are formed by teeth 54 on one end of the slot having straight edges 54 and teeth 55 on the opposite side having upwardly inclined edges 55. When frame 36 is in its normal position the resilient dog 48 engages the edge 54 of the left-hand (Fig. 4) tooth 54 and arrests the movement of member 44 and arm 45. The dog 48 then abuts against lug 49 on member 4 4 so it prevents movement of said member by spring 4'5. A spring 56 is provided to impart relative movement between escapement-bar 55 and frame 35 during the initial portion of each instrolre of frame 35. This spring 55 is ineffective while the frame 35 is in its normal position so that leaf-spring 52 will then hold bar 50 in its inner position in frame 35. Dur ng the commencement of an instroke of frame 35. spring 56 will engage 2. lug 5'! on escapement-bar 55 and hold the bar against inward movement with frame 35. The force of spring 55 preponderates that of spring 52. During this retardance of bar 55 and its movement relatively to frame 35, resilient dog 48 will be forced by spring 41' below the edge 54 of the first tooth 54 and in the escapement-slot and member 44 will be pressed to the right (Fig. 4) until dog 43 engages the inclined edge 55 of the first tooth 55 in the escapement-bar. Arm 45 will then be aligned with the first tumbler 32 of the series so that that tumbler, by the instroke of frame 36, will be shifted in accordance with the extent of rotation of the dial. After the escapement-bar 50 reaches the upper ends of slot 5i it will continue to move inwardly with frame 36 so the engaging relation of dog 48 and bar 50 will be maintained throughout the remainder of said stroke. When the dial 24 is retracted by spring 28, sleeve 21 shifts frame 35 outwardly. Before frame 35 reaches its normal position, the spring 56 becomes ineffective and leaf-spring 52 will move the escapement-bar 55 inwardly in frame 36. Dog 48 will ride over the end of inclined edge 55 of the first tooth 55 with which it has been engaged until it is arrested by the edge 54 of the second tooth 54 from the force applied to member 44 by spring 41. Each succeeding reciprocation of frame 36 responsive to a movement of the dial will result in shifting member 44 and arm 45 through the succeeding branches of the slot 53 in escapement-bar 55 until all of the tumblers have been operated. In order to permit the shiftermember 44 and arm 45 to be re-set into normal position after each series of four operations, dog 48 is resilient and free to flex so it will ride over the teeth of the escapement-bar, when said member is manually retracted against the force of spring 41.

The arcuate edges of the tumblers 32 are adapted to control the release of the locking-bolt 22, as hereinafter described. Each tumbler is provided with a notch 32. Normally the notches in the tumblers are positioned so that they will prevent the bolt 22 from being retracted and so that each of the tumblers must be shifted through a predetermined arc according to the predetermined combination in order to bring the notches into alignment for the release of the bolt 22. When the bolt 22 is in its releasing position the notches 32 of the tumblers are in alignment. When it is desired to set the tumblers into looking position it is necessary to retract the tumler-shifting member 44 to its normal position for operating the first tumbler of the series and to shift the tumblers into locking position. The device for restoring the tumblers to their locking position and retracting member 44 comprises a push-button 65 Which is provided with a stem which is siidably mounted in the cross-wall of support 40. An inclined cam 6! on the inner portion of the stem of said button is adapted to engage an incline 52 on the tumbler-shifting member 44. When button 661 is depressed, cam 6! will force member 44 to the left against the force of spring 41 and resilient dog 48 will ride over the teeth surrounding slot 53 of the escapement-bar 55 until it passes into the lefthand end of the slot. When the button 60 has been moved inwardly, dog 48 will be arrested against movement to the right by the straight edge 54 of the first tooth 54 so that the member 44 will be set in position for a series of four operations to successively operate the tumblers.

The stem of button 60 is also provided with an extension 64 for re-setting the tumblers 32 from their bolt-releasing position to their locking position. Extension 64 is adapted to rock an arm 65 when button 60 is depressed. Arm 65 is fixed to a rock-shaft 65 which is journaled in bearings 61 and said shaft has aflixed thereto a pair of parallel arms "H, the distal ends of which are cross-connected by a bar 68. When button 60 is depressed, extension 54 will rock shaft 55 and arms 11, so that bar 58 will engage the extensions 52 of the tumblers and shift them to their locking position.

A spring 14 is connected to locking-bolt 22 to retract the bolt against a stop 14' when the bolt is released. Shaft 66 is provided with an arm 15 which is adapted to engage the inner end of bolt 22 and to slide it outwardly into socket 23 when the setting button 60 is depressed, simultaneously with the setting of the tumblers in their locking position and the retraction of the tumbler operating member 44.

The retraction of bolt 22 by spring 14 is controlled by a locking-member 10 which comprises a pair of arms H, the free ends of which are rigidly cross-connected by a bar 12. Arms H are coaxially pivoted at 13 to the sides of the locking-bolt 22, Bar 12 is adapted to enter the notches 32 in the tumblers when the notches of all of the tumblers are aligned and in registry with said bar, to release the locking-bolt 2-2. Bar 12 is held against the arcuate edges of the tumblers when the notches 32 do not all register with said bar, and when thus engaged member 70 will cause the bolt 22 to be held in its locking position. When member and bar 12 are in locking position and bolt 22 is in its locking position, the force of spring 14 will be applied to hold cross-bar 12 in engagement with the edges of the tumbler by a latch 16 which is pivoted at ll to the inner face of bolt 22. This latch is provided with a shoulder 73 which engages one of the arms II when the locking-member W is in its locking position to hold bar 22 against the-edges of the tumblers 32, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 10, and with a notch 59 which is adapted to release said arm for pivotal movement so that bar '12 can pass into notches 32 Bar 12 is held against the'tumblers by the force of spring M applied through bolt 22 and arm H and latch and It against the force of spring 82 sufficiently to u bring notch 19 in registry with arm H so that the spring M can fully retract the bolt 22. As a result, when the tumblers have been correctly shifted to bring their notches 32 into registry with bar 12 of locking-member l0, spring M will automatically retract bolt 22. A light spring 83 is applied to one end of latch 16 to hold it against a stop 83' while the bolt 22 is being shifted into its locked position by arm 15.

A lever 95 pivoted on shaft 33, is operable by tumbler-resetting bar 68, and is provided with a cam-edge 5"! for engaging the bar 72 of the locking-member it to withdraw said bar from the notches 32 in the tumblers 32 so that when 1e button til is operated to shift the tumblers into locking position, bar 72 will release the tumblers for pivotal movement in advance of the engagement of bar 12 with the tumblers. A spring 98' is applied to lever 95 to retract said lever, bar '68, arms ll, shaft 65, and arm 15, after bolt 22 and the tumblers have been shifted into locking position.

A device is provided for unlocking the door from the inner side thereof without operation of the dial 22 and for locking the door from the inside without operating button 60. This device comprises a push-button 90 which is slidably mounted in a socket in the inner side of case 2! and normally pressed outwardly by a spring 9i and arrested by a stop 92. Button 99 is provided with a stem 93 which is adapted to engage an inclined cam-surface 94 in a slot in bolt 22. A bar 95 is fixedly secured to stem 93. When button 9!! is pressed inwardly, stem 93 will slide bolt 22 into socket 23 against the force of spring M. An extension 96 on bar 95 is adapted to engage re-setting bar 68 to rock lever 96 and move bar 72 of locking-member Ill out of the notches 32 in the tumblers 32 and also to operate bar (53 to set the tumblers in their normal locking position.

Button 99 is also adapted to release bolt 22 from its locking position for retraction by spring 14. A one-way spring-pressed dog 98 is pivoted to stem 95 to engage the inner end 76 of latch 16 during the in-stroke of button 98 and to shift latch 76 from its locking position when the bolt 22 is in socket 23, as shown in Fig. 10, to bring notch 79 in latch 16 into registry with arm H of locking-member H1 so that the bolt 22 will be free to be retracted by spring 14.

The operation of the locking-mechanism will be as follows: assuming the bolt 22 to be in its released position, as shown in Figs. 8 and 9, and the bolt is to be shifted into its locking position from the outer side of the door, button 60 will be pressed inwardly. Extension 64 on the stem of said button will rock arm 65, and shaft 66 and shift setting-bar 88 to first swing lever 96 to withdraw bar 12 of locking-member 10 out of the notches 32 in the tumbler, and then shift the tumblers to their locking position. Simultaneously arm 15 will slide bolt 22 into socket 23. The pivot 13 of arm II will be shifted so said arm will swing sufficiently to permit shoulder 18 of latch 75 to be pressed by spring 82 into engagement with arm H so that said shoulder 18 will lock member 10 against pivotal movement away from the tumblers. The bolt 22 will then be locked in its locking position by the tumblers and member iii. Simultaneously, cam 6! on the stem of button 6t will engage shifting-member 4 3 on rod 33 and shift said member against the force of spring 4'! to its normal position at the left-hand side of the escapement-bar 5B. The resilient dog 48 will slide over the teeth of the locking-bar. When it is desired to shift bolt 22 into locking position from the inside of the door, button 99 will be pressed inwardly so its stem 93 acting on cam-surface 94 of bolt'22, will slide the bolt outwardly against the force of spring M. Extension 96 on the stem of button 95] will operate setting-bar 68 and lever 96 to first release bar 12 of the locking-member it from the tumblers and then shift the tumblers into locking position, as before described.

To open the door from the outside it is necessary to operate the dial once for each tumbler, according to the correct combination, and shift, through sleeve 21 and studs 22, frame 36 distances corresponding to the magnitude of the angular movement necessary to bring the notches 32 in the tumblers into registry with bar 12 of locking-member iii. During the initial portion of the instroke of frame 36 the escapement-bar 50 will be retarded in frame 36 by spring 56 to position member at for shifting the first tumbler of the series and during the continuation of the instrolce member 1 52 will shift said tumbler. During the latter portion of the outstroke of frame 36 and the retraction of the dial by spring 28, escapement-bar 52 will be retarded against outward movement with frame 35 by spring 52 so that dog (it will pass through the slot in the escapement-bar 5!) into engagement with the straight side 54 of the second tooth. Each of the three succeeding strokes of the dial and frame 33 will similarly operate the escapement-device to successively position shifting-member 22 for one of the remainder of the tumblers. When the dial has been operated according to the correct combination for the four tumblers, all of the notches 32 in the tumblers will be in registry with bar 12 of the locking-member It. Thereupon, the locking-member it will be free to move inwardly a sufficient distance to disengage shoulder 18 of latch 76 from arm ll of locking-member l0 and permit the bolt 22 to be retracted by spring 14.

To unlock the bolt 22 from the inside of the door, button 90 will be pressed inwardly so that dog 98 on bar 95 on stem 93 will trip latch I6 during its instroke to disengage shoulder I8 from arm H of locking-member l and permit spring M to retract the bolt 22 into the position shown in Fig. 8.

While the invention has been illustrated and described with a series of four tumblers, it will be obviou that any desired number of tumblers may be provided to provide for a greater number of combinations.

The invention is not to be understood as restricted to the details set forth, since these may be modified within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A combination lock comprising a plurality of ccaxially pivoted tumblers, a member for shifting the tumblers, manually operable means for imparting selective operative strokes to said member, and an escapement-device operable by said means and comprising a toothed bar and an element controlled by the teeth of said bar for producing step-by-step movements of the member for successive operation of the tumblers.

2. A combination lock comprising a plurality of coaxially pivoted tumblers, a member for shifting the tumblers, manually operable means for imparting selective operative strokes to said member. and an escapement-device operable by said means and for producing step-by-step movements of the member for successive operation of the tumblers, said escapement-device comprising a bar provided with teeth, an element on said member co-acting with said bar, and springmeans for shifting said member relatively to the bar.

3. A combination lock comprising a plurality of coaxially pivoted tumblers, a member for shifting the tumblers, manually operable means for imparting selective operative strokes to said member, an escapement-device operable by said means and for producing step-by-step movements of the member for successive operation of the tumblers, said escapement device comprising a bar provided with teeth, and a resilient element on said member co-acting with said bar, and means for manually retracting said element across the bar.

4. A combination lock comprising a plurality of coaxially pivoted tumblers, a movably supported frame, manually operable means for imparting selective operative strokes to said frame, a member movable with said frame to shift the tumblers and movable in said frame for suc' cessively engaging the tumblers, and means for moving the member step-by-step in the frame for the successive operation of the tumblers.

5. A combination lock comprising a plurality of coaxially pivoted tumblers, a movably supported frame, manually operable means for imparting selective operative strokes to said frame,

a member movable with said frame to shift the tumblers and movable in said frame for successively engaging the tumblers, and means for moving the member step-by-step in the frame for the successive operation of the tumblers, comprising an escapement-bar and a dog on said member.

6. A combination lock comprising a plurality of coaxially pivoted tumblers, a movably supported frame, manually operable means for imparting selective operative strokes to said frame, a member movable with said frame to shift the tumblers and movable in said frame for successively engaging the tumblers, means for moving the member step-by-step in the frame for the successive operation of the tumblers, comprising an escapement-bar slidably mounted in said frame and a dog on said member, and a spring for slidably shifting said member in said frame under control of the escapement-device.

7. A combination lock comprising a plurality of coaxially pivoted tumblers, a slidably supported frame, manually operable means for imparting selective operative strokes to said frame, a member movable with said frame to shift the tumblers and slidable in said frame for successively engaging the tumblers, means for moving the member step-by-step in the frame for the successive operation of the tumblers, comprising an escapement-bar slidably mounted in said frame and a dog on said member, and a spring for slidably shifting the member in said frame under control of said device.

8. A combinationlock comprising a plurality of coaxially pivoted tumblers, a member for shifting the tumblers, manually operable means for imparting selective strokes to said member for shifting the tumblers, including a rotatable sleeve provided with helical means, means operable by said helical means for shifting said member, and means controlled by the movements of the sleeve for shifting the member step-by-step to successively operate the tumblers.

9. A combination lock comprising a plurality of coaxially pivoted tumblers, a member for shifting the tumblers, manually operable means for imparting selective strokes to said member for shifting the tumblers, including a dial and a sleeve rotatable with the dial and provided With helical means, means operable by said helical means for shifting said member, and means controlled by the movement of the sleeve for shifting th member step-by-step to successively operate the tumblers.

10, A combination lock comprising a plurality of coaxially pivoted tumblers, a member for shifting the tumblers, manually operable means for imparting selective strokes to said member for shifting the tumblers, including a rotatable sleeve provided with helical means, a slidable frame in which the member is slidably mounted, means operable by said helical means for shifting said frame, and means controlled by the sliding movements of the frame for shifting the member to successively operate the tumblers.

ALBERT SANOWSKIS. 

